Why you can't miss these five Eastern Conference teams in the NBA playoffs

For the past four seasons, a different team has represented the Eastern Conference in the NBA Finals.

That’s Toronto in 2019, Miami in 2020, Milwaukee in 2021 and Boston in 2022.

Will the East have a fifth different team in the NBA Finals in the past five seasons?

Perhaps Philadelphia. Or Cleveland.

Is New York ready to make that jump?

Or will it be the Bucks and Celtics in the conference finals?

We will find out over the next six weeks, with first-round series starting Saturday and Sunday after completion of the play-in game tournament.

Five things you can't miss in the Eastern Conference:

Bucks seek another title with Antetokounmpo

At this point, with this group led by All-NBA star Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Bucks are on a mission to win their second title in three seasons. Among their league-best 58 victories are winning streams of nine games to start the season and 16 games from Jan. 23-March 1 to lock up the No. 1 overall seed. Antetokounmpo is near-impossible to stop, the Bucks make 3-pointers at a solid clip, Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton (how healthy is he?) are two of the league’s underappreciated All-Stars and Brook Lopez headlines the No. 4 defense in the league.

Celtics have been knocking at the door

Can the Celtics get back to the Finals and can they win their first title since 2008? In this bottom-line league, all that matters is winning a title. They have the goods. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are two of the league’s young stars. Tatum will make an All-NBA team, and Brown could make one of the three All-NBA teams. Derrick White is up for All-Defense, and Malcom Brogdon is a leading Sixth Man of the Year candidate. That has made the Celtics the only team to finish top-five in offense and defense – actually No. 2 in both categories. Coach Joe Mazzulla handled a difficult situation when he replaced Ime Udoka who was abruptly fired before the season for inappropriate workplace conduct.

Sixers desperate for deep playoff run

Forget Joel Embiid’s MVP candidacy. Forget the Sixers are one of three teams in the top eight offensively and defensively. All that matters is the Sixers haven’t reached the conference finals since Allen Iverson led them to the Finals in 2001. With Embiid, James Harden, Tyrese Maxey, Tobias Harris and another deep roster, the Sixers have what it takes to reach the conference finals. It’s a matter of doing it.

These aren't your LeBron James Cavs anymore

If there’s a sleeper team to make the conference finals, it’s the Cavaliers. Not far from the top of the East standings all season, coach J.B. Bickerstaff has talent on both ends of the court. Led by Defensive Player of the Year candidate Evan Mobley, the Cavs are the league’s best defense, and offensively, they have Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, Jarrett Allen, Caris LeVert and Mobley. And don’t forget, Mitchell is no playoff neophyte. He has multiple 50-point playoff performances. Take note: Cleveland hasn't won a playoff series without LeBron James since 1993.

The Knicks are becoming a main attraction again

The Knicks are relevant, and that’s something that hasn’t been true all that much with this just their second playoff appearance in the past decade. Coach Tom Thibodeau has players to work with in All-NBA candidates Julius Randle and Jalen Brunson and a roster that includes R.J. Barrett and Sixth Man of the Year candidate Immanuel Quickley. Since Jan. 1, the Knicks have the No. 3 offense and seventh-most wins in the league. A happening Madison Square Garden in April is a place to be for sure, but much of the Knicks’ success hinges on the health of Randle’s sprained left ankle.

Follow NBA reporter Jeff Zillgitt on Twitter @JeffZillgitt

NBA PLAYOFFS:  Which teams made the postseason and how did they get in?

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Five Eastern Conference teams you can't miss in NBA playoffs and why